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ACLU Blueprint Urges Congress to Restore Judicial Review
The ACLU has released a blueprint for the ongoing legislative battle over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act today. Director of the Washington Legislative Office Caroline Fredrickson said, "If lawmakers feel compelled to permanently amend FISA, Congress must ensure the legislation restores judicial review and protects the privacy rights of innocent Americans." Learn More >>
Subpoena Watch: Will the White House Answer Congress' Demands?
After being denied another extension on August 17, the Bush administration let another subpoena deadline pass. Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy flatly refused the White House any more time and told reporters that there is "no question" the administration is in contempt. According to Leahy, this is the third deadline missed by the administration, despite its agreement to provide materials by August 1, a charge the White House disputes. The ACLU is calling on Leahy and Congress to hold the White House in contempt when Congress reconvenes in September. Learn More >>
ACLU Cheers No Telecom Immunity Vote from Judiciary Committee (11/15/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union is delighted that the Senate Judiciary Committee chose not to address telecom immunity in its version of a bill updating Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Although the rest of the bill does not pass constitutional muster, the ACLU applauds the Committee for not letting the bells off the hook.
ACLU Urges Judiciary Committee Not to Let the Bells Off the Hook (11/14/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union urges Senate Judiciary Committee members to oppose substitution language floated by some Members of the Committee that would grant telecommunications companies immunity for their illegal activities over the past six years. The substitution amendment would instead make the government responsible for illegal activity committed by the companies involved in the NSA warrantless wiretapping program, but could effectively extinguish the lawsuits entirely due to legal barriers the government could raise if it were substituted as the sole defendant.
Patriot Act Victim Speaks Out on Spy Bill (11/14/2007)
WASHINGTON – Brandon Mayfield, an Oregon attorney falsely linked to terrorism, sent a statement to Congress this month urging the body against legislation that would overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Mayfield was subject to unconstitutional surveillance under the Patriot Act and subsequently arrested and held without charge. Mayfield wrote a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee members Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) asking that they consider the effect that the FISA Amendments Act of 2007 would have on innocent Americans.
ACLU Says Spy Law Still Needs Work (11/9/2007)
WASHINGTON – After proposals to alter portions of a surveillance bill were released by the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union once again urged meaningful constitutional protections be added to the legislation. The FISA Amendments Act seeks to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and was written in response to the so-called Protect America Act that was rushed through Congress in August. The bill as drafted by the Senate Intelligence Committee includes immunity for the telecommunications companies for their role in the administration’s domestic spying program. The Judiciary Committee is expecting to take up that provision next week.
ACLU Warns Congress Not to Legalize Warrantless Wiretapping (10/31/2007)
WASHINGTON – As the Senate Judiciary Committee met to hear testimony on the FISA Amendment Act, the American Civil Liberties Union once again voiced its opposition to the proposed legislation and called for strict Fourth Amendment protections. The legislation contains some of the same language as the so-called Protect America Act, including "basket warrants" that give federal agents the power to intercept Americans’ communications without the individual warrants that the Fourth Amendment requires. The FISA Amendment Act also includes a provision that would grant telecommunications companies immunity for their role in the administration’s domestic spying program.
ACLU Calls Hand Over of Spy Documents Self-Serving (10/26/2007)
WASHINGTON – After months of stonewalling, the White House has offered to release documents regarding its illegal wiretapping to the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in an effort to ease the way for intelligence legislation it wants passed. The American Civil Liberties Union labeled the release manipulative and self-serving as these documents have been under subpoena for over four months. The administration has held onto the documents until Congress was in a position to aid the White House.
ACLU Applauds Senators’ Stands on Telecom Immunity, Growing List of Senators Won’t Let the Telecom’s Off-The-Hook (10/25/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union stands behind senators who have pledged to stand up against any FISA gutting legislation that includes letting the telecom companies off-the-hook for illegal activity. Senators who have pledged to stand against immunity for telecoms are: Senator Joseph Biden (D-CT), Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI). Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). Senator Dodd was the first to announce that he would actively oppose any legislation that included immunity for illegal acts committed by telecommunications companies over the past six years.
ACLU Answers Congress’ Question ‘Can SBI Succeed?’: No (10/24/2007)
WASHINGTON – Congress asked today in a committee hearing appropriately called "The Future of Border Security: Can SBINet succeed?" and the American Civil Liberties Union has a definitive answer: No. Even Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff himself has admitted the program has problems, calling it "unsatisfactory."
ACLU Calls for Stricter Oversight of Terrorist Watch Lists (10/24/2007)
WASHINGTON – Today the Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on terror watch lists, an issue that the American Civil Liberties Union has been carefully observing since September 11, 2001. This comes on the heels of a GAO report that was released today detailing the progress of the Terrorist Screening Centers. The ACLU noted that though the report states some progress was achieved, that progress is still heavily outweighed by major concerns regarding privacy and efficiency.
Washington Legislative Office Hires New Deputy Director, Chief Legislative & Policy Counsel and Legislative Counsel (10/22/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union recently welcomed Georgia Noone as Deputy Director, Michael Macleod-Ball as Chief Legislative & Policy Counsel, and Joanne Lin as Legislative Counsel covering civil rights issues.
ACLU Disappointed in Senate Intel Committee Vote on FISA (10/19/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union is mystified that the Senate Select Intelligence Committee would pass a FISA bill, drafted with heavy input from the Bush administration, which does not protect Americans from intrusive domestic spying and creates a path to immunity for telecommunications executives. However, a small improvement was made as Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) were successful in including the addition of a requirement that the government get a warrant when it targets an American abroad (such as a missionary, business person or soldier). Now the bill moves to the Senate Judiciary committee.
ACLU Applauds Removal of Unconstitutional "Creation Science" Earmark from Appropriations Bill (10/18/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union, alongside 33 other religious, civil rights, education, science and advocacy organizations celebrated today as Senator David Vitter (R-LA) withdrew an unconstitutional earmark that would have funded the teaching of creationism in public school science classes. The earmark was added on to the Fiscal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill’s Committee Report.
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